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BASKETBALL INTERPRETATION MEETING BULLETINS

Published by the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF STATE HIGH SCHOOL
ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS

H. V. Porter, Secretary, 7 South Dearborn St., Chicago
Based on 1941-42 Official Basketball Rules

BULLETIN IV

NOTE: Fourth of a series of 5 National Federation Bulletins (1941-42)
To secure additional copies, see page 64 of Rule Book
Devote this meeting to an extensive study of several sections of the rules which include a number
of complicated provisions. The leader of the meeting may choose to appoint several assistants, each
of whom should make a careful study of the section assigned to him.

REPORT I
When Certain Acts End :
A. When does a free throw end?

(1) Ball goes in basket.

(2) Ball is touched by any player.

(3) It is evident that throw will not go in basket.

Comment: These are important in certain situations connected with when the watch shall be started
and with the number of points which must be awarded if the ball finally goes in the basket. Consider
the case where Al attempts a free throw and after the ball has touched the backboard (but not the
ring), BI leaps in the air and bats the ball against the backboard for a second time and it then falls
in the basket. The free throw ends when touched by B and, if any points were to be counted, it
would have to be for a field goal. In this particular case, the touching caused Al to commit a
violation and the ball is dead after the touching.

Here is a second situation which is affected. Al attempts free throw. While the ball is circling the
ring, A2 leaps in the air and taps it into the basket without touching the ring. If points were to be
counted, it would have to be for a field goal. However, A2 has committed a violation in accordance
under 14-12-(b) and note. Also consider the case where the ball from a free throw bounces from the
ring to the area above it when A2 taps it into the basket. When does the free throw end?

B. When does a try for field goal end?

(1) Probably under the same three circumstances as for a free throw.

Comment: These are important in connection with the question under 7-7, last paragraph of the
note under II-1, 11-5, 14-1, and 14-12 and 13.

Consider the following:

Case I: Near the end of a period Al tries for field goal and the throw is low. The signal sounds
while the ball is in the air and after the signal, the try is deflected by A2 or BI and then goes in the
basket. It has been ruled that if the touching is by A, the field goal does not count but if the touch-
ing is by B, the goal counts. From the standpoint of consistency, it is best to assume that the first try
for goal ended when the ball was touched. Under such circumstances, the touching by B constitutes
a new try and consequently it is B who makes the field goal, even though it is credited to Team A
because it fell in their basket. There is a similar situation when a try which is in the air at the time of
the signal is then touched by A2 or BI and is deflected over the backboard and out of bounds at
the end. How should the ball be put in play at the beginning of the next period? It has been ruled
(play situation 202A) that play shall be resumed by a jump between centers at the free throw line.
It may. be difficult to justify these two rulings except that it would make a bad looking situation if the
goal in the first illustration were not allowed. Also, the next to the last paragraph of Rule 7-7 makes
special provision for the counting of the field goal under such circumstances and this provision does
not apply to situations where the ball goes out of bounds.

Case 2: Al has the ball out of bounds and throws it at his own backboard. The ball circles the
ring and A2 taps it in without touching the ring. Should the goal count and to whom should it be
Grédited? If it is assumed that the first try ends when it is touched by A2, then the goal should
count and should be credited to A2. Here is a variation of this situation. The player out of bounds
throws the ball toward his own backboard and the throw is low enough so that it is touched by BI
and then continues into A's basket. Again, if it is assumed that the try by Al ended when it was
touched by B, the goal should count. This gives rise to the question of who should be credited with
such a goal. Probably the most logical way to handle such situations is to credit the goal to the
last player of the scoring team to touch the ball before the new try started, i.e., was touched by an
opponent. Consider the case where Al while out of bounds throws the ball at the opponent's back-
board and while the ball is circling the ring, A2 taps it into the basket. In this case, the goal counts
for B. If the bat by A2 is such that the ball does not go in the basket, the goal is awarded to B
because of the violation.

C. When does a play end?

On account of the indefinite nature of a play, all references to "on the same play" have been